Emerging approaches to space settlement design: A study from the perspective of architects

Earth as a planet had never truly satisfied us or our ancestors and humankind has always set their gaze on the skies. This led to fantasies such as space voyage and exploration which was the inspiration behind many works of art and literature like Jules Verne's 'From the Earth to the Moon', Robert A. Heinlein's 'Red planet' and even some music like David Bowie's 'Life on Mars'. However, for the last two decades these fantasies were no longer just mere imagination of creative minds but actual projects with billion-dollar budgets for space mobility, resources and perhaps most essential of all a place in which humans can live; a settlement. In an era marked by the growing aspirations of humanity to expand its presence beyond Earth, the role of architects in space settlement design is required. This subject represents an uncharted frontier, demanding a unique blend of technical expertise, visionary thinking, and an understanding of human needs and experiences. Architects, with their multidisciplinary skills compassing aesthetics, functionality, sustainability, and design, are ideally create a bridge the gap between the harsh realities of space and the innate human desire for exploration and habitation. Space settlements are not just technical achievements; they are expressions of our identity as a species.